Enstilar

Enstilar treats plaque psoriasis. Avoid spending a long time in the sunlight and avoid tanning booths. Wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of your skin if you have to be in sunlight.

Enstilar Overview

Reviewed: July 15, 2016
Updated: 

Enstilar is a topical (skin only) prescription medication used to treat plaque psoriasis in patients 18 years of age and older.

It is a single product containing 2 medications: calcipotriene and betamethasone. Calcipotriene belongs to a group of drugs called synthetic vitamin D3 derivatives, but the exact way calcipotriene works to treat plaque psoriasis is unknown. Betamethasone belongs to a group of drugs called topical corticosteroids which work by decreasing inflammation.

This medication comes as a spray foam. It is usually applied to the affected skin once daily.

Common side effects of Enstilar foam are irritation, redness, and itching of the skin treated.

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Enstilar Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautions

Uses of Enstilar

Enstilar is a prescription medication used to treat plaque psoriasis in patients 18 years of age and older.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Manufacturer

Side Effects of Enstilar

Serious side effects have been reported with Enstilar. See the “Enstilar Precautions” section.

The most common side effects of Enstilar are application site:

  • irritation
  • itching
  • inflammation
  • changes in skin color
  • rash
  • worsening of your psoriasis

This is not a complete list of Enstilar side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Enstilar Interactions

No drug interactions have been determined by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Tell your doctor if you are taking vitamin D or calcium supplements, lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith), or thiazide diuretics. All of these medications can increase calcium levels in the blood and when combined with Enstilar, may lead to too high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia).

Enstilar Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Enstilar, including:

  • flammability. The propellants in Enstilar are flammable. Avoid fire, flame, and smoking during and immediately following application.
  • high level of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of hypercalcemia:
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Loss of appetite
    • Excessive thirst
    • Frequent urination
    • Constipation
    • Abdominal pain
    • Muscle weakness
    • Muscle and joint aches
    • Confusion
    • Lethargy and fatigue
  • allergic skin reaction. Tell your healthcare provider right away if your skin is condition worsens. 
  • increased risk of ultraviolet light damage to the skin. Avoid excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight, including tanning booths, sun lamps, etc.

Enstilar is a topical medication with a potential for absorption of medication into the blood. Possible issues from this include:

  • Having too much corticosteroid medicine in your blood (hypercorticism). Long-time use can cause you to have too much glucocorticosteroid medicine in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of hypercorticism:
    • acne
    • bruise easily
    • rounding of your face (moon face)
    • ankle swelling
    • thicker or more hair on your body and face
    • a fatty pad or hump between your shoulders (buffalo hump)
    • pink or purple stretch marks on the skin of your abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms
  • Adrenal suppression. When taken for a long period of time (chronic use), the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones (adrenal suppression). Tell your healthcare provider if you are under stress or have any symptoms of adrenal suppression:
    • tiredness
    • weakness
    • nausea
    • vomiting
    • low blood pressure

Do not use Enstilar if you are allergic to Enstilar or to any of its ingredients.

Enstilar Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Enstilar, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

Before taking Enstilar, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Enstilar or to any of its ingredients
  • have a calcium metabolism disorder
  • are getting phototherapy treatments (light therapy) for your psoriasis.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Enstilar® Foam can harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Enstilar® Foam passes into your breast milk. Do not use Enstilar® Foam on your breast if you breastfeed.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Enstilar and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Enstilar falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Enstilar and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Enstilar crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with the use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Enstilar.

Enstilar Usage

Use Enstilar exactly as prescribed.

  • Apply Enstilar to the affected areas of your skin 1 time a day for up to 4 weeks. You should stop treatment when your plaque psoriasis is under control unless your doctor gives you other instructions.
  • Do not use more than 60 grams of Enstilar every 4 days.
  • Do not use Enstilar longer than prescribed. Using too much Enstilar, or using it too often, or for too long, can increase your risk of having serious side effects.
  • Shake the Enstilar can before you use it.
  • Avoid using Enstilar on your face, groin, or under your arms, or if you have thinning of your skin (atrophy) at the treatment site.
  • If you accidentally get Enstilar on the face, in the mouth or in the eyes, wash the area with water right away.
  • Wash your hands after using Enstilar unless you are using the medicine to treat your hands.
  • Do not bandage or tightly cover the treated skin area, unless instructed by your doctor.
  • Enstilar is flammable. Avoid heat, flame, or smoking during and right after applying.

How to apply Enstilar Foam:  Follow your doctor’s instructions on how much Enstilar Foam to use and where to use it. 

Wash your hands before applying Enstilar Foam.

Step 1: Remove the cap from the can. Shake the can before use. 

Step 2: Hold the can at least 1.5 inches from the affected area. 

Step 3: The foam can be sprayed holding the can in any position except horizontally. To spray, push down on the nozzle. 

Step 4: Gently rub in Enstilar Foam into your affected skin areas. Repeat the steps above to apply Enstilar Foam to other affected areas as instructed by your doctor.

Step 5: After applying Enstilar Foam, put the cap back on the can.

Step 6: Wash your hands after using Enstilar Foam unless you are using the medicine to treat your hands. 

 

Enstilar Dosage

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Enstilar for the treatment of plaque psoriasis is once application daily for up to 4 weeks.

Discontinue use when control is achieved.

The maximum dose of Enstilar is 60 g every 4 days.

Enstilar Overdose

If you use too much Enstilar, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Other Requirements

  • Store Enstilar at room temperature between  68° to 77°F (20° - 25°C).
  • Do not expose Enstilar to heat or store at temperatures above 120°F (49°C).
  • Do not puncture or burn the Enstilar can.
  • Do not freeze Enstilar.
  • Enstilar has an expiration date (exp.) marked on the can. Do not use after this date.
  • Use Enstilar within 6 months after it has been opened.
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